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It’s important to recognize the symptoms early - before they become severe. You’ll be advised to stay well-hydrated and do your best to avoid the things that can trigger an episode. If you are diagnosed with vasovagal syncope, in most cases, there’s no specific treatment. Even more specialized testing might follow, depending on what these tests show and the severity of your symptoms. A heart rhythm monitor records your heart rhythm to be sure you aren’t having any unusual skips or pauses that might cause you to pass out. They may include an echocardiogram, which can show the heart’s strength, check the valves, and look for heart damage. That way they can be sure that none of these are causing trouble for you.ĭepending on what this first round of tests finds, your provider may order additional tests. Your medical provider will want to know about any supplements, over-the-counter medications, or prescription drugs that you are taking. Sometimes serious health issues are discovered, including problems with heart muscle strength or rhythm, or even neurological conditions like seizures. Although vasovagal syncope itself isn’t always serious, it’s important to rule out other possible causes of your fainting. That’s especially important if it happens without warning, while driving, or causes a fall or injury. If you experience a fainting episode, it's important to get a medical checkup. How is vasovagal syncope diagnosed and treated? You could break a bone or suffer a concussion from a hard fall if you aren’t able to sit or lie down before losing consciousness. If your case is more severe, you may pass out suddenly and without warning. It will also keep you from falling and hurting yourself. This simple action will help to bring blood flow back to the brain, which counteracts the effects of low blood pressure. Lying down and propping your feet up above the level of the heart will often make you feel better within a few minutes. Usually you’ll have time to get yourself into a safer position before the symptoms become severe. But you may feel weak, nauseated, and clammy. Most of the time, vasovagal symptoms will not cause you to pass out. These symptoms include:ĭoes a vasovagal reaction always result in fainting? Vasovagal syncope refers to the loss of consciousness (fainting) that happens with vasovagal symptoms. So far there’s no cure for vasovagal syncope, so if you come from a family of fainters, it’s important to take precautions to avoid things that might trigger an episode. In some cases, especially for men, the problem may be genetic. For example, someone with diarrhea from a stomach flu or food poisoning may be more susceptible to a vasovagal reaction.Īlthough vasovagal syncope is very common, we still don’t know why some people get it and others don’t.
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Urination, especially in the middle of the night (also known as “micturition syncope”)ĭehydration will often make the symptoms worse. Long periods of standing, especially in the heat
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Things that can bring on vasovagal syncope include: This causes the heart rate and blood pressure to drop so low that blood flow to the brain is reduced. Problems happen when the vagus nerve overreacts or is overstimulated. It belongs to the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes known as the “rest and digest” system.Īllow normal movement of the digestive tract The vagus nerve is part of the fright-flight-freeze response, and generally it has a calming effect. It travels from behind the brain, through the neck, to organs in the chest and abdomen. To understand vasovagal syncope, a little knowledge of the vagus nerve is helpful. Knowing the triggers for vasovagal syncope is the first step to getting the problem under control. Most of the time, vasovagal syncope is just a nuisance, but for some people it can lead to serious falls and injuries. When the reaction is severe it can cause syncope, which is a medical term for passing out or fainting. This condition, named for the vagus nerve, happens to as many as half of us at some point in life. If this sounds familiar, chances are good that you experienced a vasovagal reaction. Have you ever felt a little queasy at the sight of blood? Or maybe you got dizzy and clammy when you hit your funny bone? Perhaps you have even passed out after vomiting.